How to start a behavior management system in your self-contained class

Setting up a behavior management system in your self-contained classroom can be overwhelming because there are so many ideas out there! Students, especially those in a self-contained class, thrive on routine and structure. Setting up a behavior management system is a great way to set students up for success.

Observe other teachers

Some of the best professional development is simply observing other educators, especially if you are a new teacher. It can be helpful to take some time, even just a few minutes during your planning period, to peek into some classrooms around your school.

Notice what plans they may have in place. If your school has a schoolwide program (PBIS), every class will be using that. However, in my opinion, I think it is a good idea to go beyond just using the schoolwide system and also establish a system for just your classroom.

Some common behavior management systems that teachers use include a class store/economy, Class Dojo, punch cards, etc. I have personally used a class store and punch cards. You can read about all different types of behavior management systems in this SSE blog post.

Take notes and take pictures of what you like in other teacher’s classrooms. Look on Pinterest, Instagram, and teacher Facebook groups as well!

Narrow it down to one system

Once you have decided what will work for you in your classroom, go all in learning about and implementing that system. Don’t try to incorporate multiple behavior management systems, this will be too much for you to manage.

If you copied this idea from another teacher, talk to that teacher to see how they started using that system. Make sure you observe that system in action. Of course, you will adapt it to your specific students.

Be flexible and try out different things

Sometimes, you may have a system in mind that you find just does not work for your group of students. Be open to changing it if needed, because what works for another teacher may not work for you!

When I first started teaching, I used punch cards. Each student would get a “punch card” with squares around it. When they were on task, following directions, being kind, etc. I would punch a hole in their card. When they earned a certain number of punches, they could choose a prize from the prize box. The students would leave their cards on their desk and as they were working, I would come around with my hole punch. If I was in the middle of teaching but noticed positive behaviors, I would keep a sticky note next to me and jot down names that earned punches so I could catch up later.

When I started working at a behavioral school, I chose to do a classroom store. The idea made more sense for my students, as they loved earning “money” to use at the store on Fridays. I had different priced items in the store, ranging from $5-$50. The students were able to visit the store on Fridays if they were having a good day according to their school behavior note. The picture above shows different options students could choose from.

They could choose to spend their money on smaller things, like toys or candy. Or they could save their money for big ticket items like giant candy bars, a get out of an assignment pass, or a pizza party. This was great because not only was it rewarding positive behavior, it also taught them money skills like budgeting and saving.

Remember, you don’t have to spend your own money

While it can be fun to have tangible prizes for students to choose from, this can get expensive very quickly. I always bought toys and prizes at the Dollar Tree, Five Below, or from the dollar section at Target.

However, there are tons of free prizes you can have students choose from. Some of these include take your shoes off, wear a crazy hat, bring a stuffed animal to school, lunch with the teacher and a friend, positive note home, etc.

Teachers Pay Teachers has tons of free rewards you can print and give to students, like these.

Having a behavior management system in your classroom can be beneficial for everyone involved. It can keep your students on track and make teaching more enjoyable!